Cornerstone Learning Center
An accredited primary school giving children a quality education, so families serving in Cambodia don’t have to choose between their calling and their children’s education.
Education that helps families stay
Cornerstone is a small, growing primary school on the University of the Nations Battambang campus. We teach in English, follow the Australian curriculum, and believe that forming a child’s character matters as much as forming their mind.
We are open to any family in Battambang who wants a quality education taught in English for their children. And we are looking for teachers who see what they do as more than a job.
If you are a teacher, your classroom here does something most classrooms cannot. It makes it possible for families to stay in Cambodia and keep doing the work they came to do. That is not a small thing.
If you are a parent, this is a school where your child will be known by name, taught well, and genuinely cared for, without you having to leave Cambodia to provide it.
That last part matters because for years, families in ministry had no choice. Stay on the field and compromise your children’s schooling, or go home. Many went home. Cornerstone was built so that choice no longer has to be made.
At a Glance
- Accreditation: Australian curriculum
- Teaching language: English
- Level: Primary school
- Location: University of the Nations campus, Battambang, Cambodia
- Ethos: Academically rigorous, character-forming, rooted in faith
Few Teachers Ever See This Kind of Impact
Most teachers spend their careers wondering whether what they do truly matters beyond test scores and term reports. At Cornerstone, that question answers itself every day.
Keep families on the field.
Every family whose child is enrolled at Cornerstone is a family that did not have to go home. Their parents are serving communities, educating youth, equipping local leaders, and investing in Cambodia’s future. They stay because Cornerstone exists. Because a teacher showed up.
That’s an impact most teachers never get to see.
Teach in a country where education changes everything.
Cambodia is a nation rebuilding itself. The generation in your classroom is the generation that will lead it. Children here do not take education for granted. The hunger to learn is real and it is visible.
Do it alongside community.
Cornerstone sits inside the University of the Nations Battambang campus, which has been operating since 2006, and is home to over 100 staff from many nations. It’s also one of the largest YWAM campuses in the world. Here you would be part of a community of people who eat lunch together, who share purpose and life across cultures. Here you’ll be part of a community from the day you arrive.
What You Need to Know
For Prospective teachers
Keep families on the field.
We are looking for qualified primary school teachers who see education as a calling, not just a career, and who are willing to bring that into a cross-cultural environment.
The minimum requirement is a Bachelor’s degree in primary or elementary education. Everything else (including experience, specializations, and questions about fit) is best worked through in a direct conversation.
You do not need to be a YWAM staff member or have completed a Discipleship Training School to teach at Cornerstone. You will, however, spend a significant amount of time within the University of the Nations Battambang community. This is not a trade-off. For most people who have come, it has been one of the best parts.
Support and compensation.
Practical details about compensation, support structure, and what the role looks like day to day are discussed directly with candidates. If you have questions before reaching out formally, please get in touch.
Living in Battambang.
Battambang is quieter than the capital, Phnom Penh. It’s increasingly home to a small international community. The cost of living is low. The people are warm. The adjustment to life in Cambodia is real, but it is one that hundreds of international staff have navigated well, many of whom will be your neighbors on campus.
For Families
Enrollment at Cornerstone.
Cornerstone is open to any family in Battambang who wants a quality education taught in English for their children. Instruction follows the Australian curriculum, which means students can transition back into mainstream education in compatible systems without losing ground.
If you want to understand what your child’s education would look like at Cornerstone, get in touch. We are happy to talk it through.
At a Glance
If This Is For You
Teaching at Cornerstone is not a small decision. For some it means leaving familiar ground, moving to a place that will ask things of you that a classroom at home never would, and doing it in service of families and children who are genuinely grateful you came.
It is also the kind of decision that people are thankful for.
If you hold a primary education degree, see teaching as more than a job, and wonder whether your skills could serve something larger than a standard school calendar, it’s worth starting a conversation.
If you’re interested in sending your children to Cornerstone, please connect with us.
Reach out and someone will get back to you.
Teachers
Have questions about Cornerstone, teaching here, what it’s like in Battambang, or anything else?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have done a DTS or be a YWAM staff member to teach at Cornerstone?
No. Cornerstone teachers are not required to have completed a Discipleship Training School or to join as standard YWAM staff. You will, however, be embedded in the University of the Nations, Battambang community and spend significant time with staff from across the campus. Most teachers who have come have found this to be one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
What qualifications do I need?
A Bachelor’s degree in primary or elementary education is required. Other questions about experience, background, and fit are best discussed directly. If you are unsure whether you qualify, get in touch and ask.
What curriculum does Cornerstone use?
Cornerstone follows the Australian curriculum and teaches in English.
The Australian Curriculum is 3-dimensional; it includes learning areas, general capabilities, and cross-curriculum priorities. Together, the 3 dimensions set out essential knowledge, understanding and skills all young Australians need so they will be able to learn, contribute and shape their world now and in the future.
Will my child be able to transition back into school in our home country?
Students following the Australian curriculum can move into mainstream education in Australia and other compatible systems.
We have had kids successfully transition from here to America.
If you have specific questions about your child’s situation, raise them when you get in touch and we will do our best to give you an honest answer.
What age groups does Cornerstone teach?
Cornerstone is a primary school. The specific age range sometimes shifts depending on how old the enrolled students are.
Is this a large school?
No. Cornerstone is intentionally small, which means low student-to-teacher ratios and the kind of individual attention each child receives that is genuinely rare, in Cambodia and elsewhere.
What is University of the Nations, Battambang?
The University of the Nations (U of N), Battambang, Cambodia is one of the largest YWAM campuses in the world. YWAM is a Christian missions movement and our location has been operating since 2006 with over 100 staff from many nations. Altogether, U of N serves communities, educates youth, and develops leaders. Cornerstone sits within this campus community.